A Donegal woman and her local community are coming together to raise money for the Irish Liver Foundation, five years after she received a life-saving liver transplant.
Claire McLaughlin was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease in 2025, a rare condition that causes copper levels to build up in several organs.
In August of 2019 after suffering severe liver issues, she was left with a nervous wait as the search for a donor of a transplant liver began.
Luckily just a month later, as she was already admitted to hospital for another condition, she got the call that a donor had been found.
She says that while five others also received the same call, Claire was the one selected for the transplant.
“I thank God every day that I was the one chosen, but I pray that the other four people who needed a transplant have received theirs on time,” Claire said via her GoFundMe page.
“Unfortunately many people don’t get the chance. I cannot urge people enough to please sign the organ donor register and share their donation decisions. I can only vouch for myself on what it has meant to me.”
“My life & health are so good since the transplant in September 2019,” Claire posted.
“We, as a family, had our first holiday together since the transplant in May 2023. It was so wonderful to enjoy that holiday with great health & that is due to that selfless decision that someone made to give life back to others through organ donation.”
The vast improvement in her quality of life after the transplant inspired Claire to raise money for the Irish Liver Foundation – as well as another recent health scare.
“After 5 years with no problems or complications suddenly my liver went into rejection so I ended up in St. Vincents Hospital in Dublin for 5 weeks…. I then had to make weekly visits to Dublin for bloods & a review.”
“The bloods are gradually getting better but if they don’t continue to improve I will have to get treatment that is the equivalent of chemotherapy, and it’s sore on the body but thank god I am doing well at the minute.”
“The expense on families in these situations is a lot and after seeing first-hand what it takes I want to do something to raise funds for the Irish Liver Foundation to continue the great work they do.”
She is raising money through a 5k Fun Run and walk in Moville next Saturday, the 28th of December.
The event starts from the Moville Celtic FC clubhouse in Glencrow (F93 EW21) at 11am.
There is also an online fundraising page that has been launched ahead of the run.
You can donate to it here: https://gofund.me/83ff3a42
